(Washington, DC) - The Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) is pleased to announce the winners of the ninth annual steel design student competition for the 2008-2009 academic year. Administered by the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) and sponsored by the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), the program challenged students, working individually or in teams, to explore a variety of design issues related to the use of steel in design and construction.

We are pleased to announce the 2008-2009 Award Winners:

Category I -- Life Cycle of a School challenged architecture students to design a school for the 21st century that critically examines life cycle and proposes an innovative solution in steel. The problem of urban growth and decay is larger than an individual building. Therefore, architects should consider a total life cycle assessment approach to designing buildings so that they may be adaptable, flexible, and accommodate change. This project will allow students to explore many varied functional and aesthetic uses for steel as a building material. Steel is an ideal material for schools because it offers the a high strength to weight ratio and can be designed systematically as a kit of parts or prefabricated to allow for quicker construction times and less labor, thus reducing the cost of construction. Schools constructed in steel are more flexible and adaptable to allow for diversity of uses over the life of the facility.

Juror comments: Innovative structure design arranged from the top down and interesting use of the rooftop for outdoor playground allowing the children to take advantage of a vertical view rather than the surrounding. The modular design allows for maximum flexibility and different density of modules. The modules could also be used for different locations if other buildings adopted the same design.

Juror comments: This project uses recycled shipping containers on a sliding track system to create a flexible and safe space for students to study. The students’ design is adaptable according to changing needs and functions. The project utilizes good design strategies, with a shading system built into the glassy façade and a design aesthetic that matches the industrial freeway site.

Juror comments: This project design has a dynamic, proportionate, and open structure, making good use of steel as a building material. The flexibility of the classroom spaces offer diversity for possible activities.

Juror comments: Excellent concept, program, and site. This project offers an innovative approach to environmental issues, putting the public face-to-face with their waste and the waste of the landscape of suburban sprawl. The choice of a boomerang shape and salvaging scraps for the structure, referencing the ‘junk’ that comes back to you, is very clever.

Juror comments: Very well written program and thoughtful use of the site. Addresses the site by going beyond steel recycling but by recovering lost sites and rethinking them as a residential. The diversity of the interior unit types is a welcome surprise compared to the sobriety of the exterior. Keeps the waterfront public. Elegant expression of the material.

Juror comments: Beautiful presentation, and thoughtful exploration of the site and building performance. This project explores in detail the depth of the program they have outlined for themselves: seismic performance.

Juror comments: Nice exploration of steel as an assemblage intensive material. The students used shipping containers as a readily accessible found material and explored the process of steel assemblage.